With the current state of the Middle East there is a lot of excitement, and even anxiety, amongst Christians. Our own U.S. economy has many Believers fearful and anxious, but now the thought of a regime change in the Middle East has many even more anxious.
When Jesus stated, “Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world” (Luke 21:26, NIV) I’m quite certain He didn’t mean for that to be Christians. So what would God expect of Christians during turbulent times? Well, since you’re reading a “faith” blogsite, my answer is of course, FAITH.
And what do I turn to when world events and the newscasters start predicting trouble? I turn to Psalm 37. I think it might be one of my most favorite Psalms, for it covers almost every single situation that can come upon the Earth. So I will post Psalm 37 below. But notice as you read it out loud … as you confess it out loud as your very own Promise from God to your family … notice how David wrote it.
This is an Old Testament saint who was not Born Again. A man who did not have all of his sins removed (Hebrews 10:1-4) as New Testament saints do (Romans 6:7), and therefore should have been more subject to condemnation and sinful strongholds than we. A man who did not have the Holy Spirit of God living inside of him either, as New Testament saints do … the Holy Spirit Who is our Comforter, the Power of God inside of us, and our Teacher and Guide. And yet this man was CONFIDENT. He was strong in his confidence that God always had him covered, in every situation that could come upon the Earth, and he spoke and acted as such.
You don’t see David tearfully or fearfully begging God to protect him and his family in this Psalm. No way. But you read powerful proclomations of faith. Powerful, confident proclamations that God is on the side of the righteous, providing, protecting, helping and delivering.
And so I would recommend this Psalm be read out loud … for faith comes by hearing … on your own and with your family, over the next few weeks. Get faith built inside of your spirit man and inside your emotions NOW, before things in this world get even worse. For it is much easier to build your faith while times are good, while your stomach is being filled daily, and while your body isn’t wracked with pain. And if you find your body wracked with pain while reading this post, or your dinner table lacking provisions, then read and quote this Psalm out loud as your Covenant Agreement from God to you, to get those provisions onto your table and to raise you up from your illness. Don’t beg God to do it. THANK HIM that He is faithful to do what He’s said He will do. And then, as vs 7 states, be patient in your faith as you wait for the Words of this Psalm to come to life. Absolutely FAITHFUL is God to do all that He has said. And your part in the equation is to BELIEVE.
Psalm 37
Of David.
1Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.
12The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18The days of the blameless are known to the Lord,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20But the wicked will perish:
The Lord’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
they will vanish—vanish like smoke.
21The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
22those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be cut off.
23If the Lord delights in a man’s way,
he makes his steps firm;
24though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
25I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.
27Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
28For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
29the righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
31The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.
32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
seeking their very lives;
33but the Lord will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34Wait for the Lord
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,
36but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a futureb for the man of peace.
38But all sinners will be destroyed;
the futurec of the wicked will be cut off.
39The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica.
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(c) 2011 Faith Speaks Inc
First Published February 1, 2011
